Under sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the government may constitute a Gram Panchayat for each village or group of villages. The Gram Panchayat is responsible not only for public welfare and statutory functions but also for all aspects of public life such as planning, development, sanitation, health and education. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment and the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and the related rules have conferred extensive powers and resources on the Gram Panchayats. The local self-government institutions in Kerala today function as local governments. Innovative programmes including e-governance and front office management systems have been implemented in the Gram Panchayats to provide various services to the people in a timely and equitable manner and to make the local self-government institutions people-friendly. | 
